Flowki
Well-Known Member
Perhaps an insightful topic for fair warning on what ever dangers may exist.
Silica is something to talk about in that the industrial form is extremely dangerous. Although silica in plant nutrition is not seemingly as potent (or more likely less studied) one would imagine the powdered form is still not something you want to spend too much time around.
One issue on my mind be it liquid or powdered form silica is soil build up of the substance in potted plants. When it comes time to ditch the old pot soil, given that it may by very dry this could be a situation where a lot of silica in the dry soil of many pots could be disturbed and released air born. Weather or not this is possible, or if the type and concentration of silica released is above safe limits I don't know. I have friends who work in the asbestos industry and know first hand that nothing but face fit breathing apparatus with appropriate filter size can reduce such threats to absolute minimum. If silica (or perhaps various other organic or inorganic substances) is released in such situations, you can do it when you bnq cheap disposable face mask it, is not going work.
If such a risk does exist in application (especially powdered forms) or with soil removal, what would be reasonable actions?.
Wetting soils to dampen and keep dust down prior to removal (a similar practice used in asbestos industry) would be one measure. What about application methods?.
Further more, what other risks would you associate around this topic?.
Silica is something to talk about in that the industrial form is extremely dangerous. Although silica in plant nutrition is not seemingly as potent (or more likely less studied) one would imagine the powdered form is still not something you want to spend too much time around.
One issue on my mind be it liquid or powdered form silica is soil build up of the substance in potted plants. When it comes time to ditch the old pot soil, given that it may by very dry this could be a situation where a lot of silica in the dry soil of many pots could be disturbed and released air born. Weather or not this is possible, or if the type and concentration of silica released is above safe limits I don't know. I have friends who work in the asbestos industry and know first hand that nothing but face fit breathing apparatus with appropriate filter size can reduce such threats to absolute minimum. If silica (or perhaps various other organic or inorganic substances) is released in such situations, you can do it when you bnq cheap disposable face mask it, is not going work.
If such a risk does exist in application (especially powdered forms) or with soil removal, what would be reasonable actions?.
Wetting soils to dampen and keep dust down prior to removal (a similar practice used in asbestos industry) would be one measure. What about application methods?.
Further more, what other risks would you associate around this topic?.
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